New Zealand veteran Beauden Barrett was recalled Thursday to start at fly-half in the second Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Wellington.
Damian McKenzie, who has started all eight games in the number 10 shirt for New Zealand this season, drops to the bench for Saturday’s clash.
Barrett, 33, will make his 131st appearance for the All Blacks, who retained the Bledisloe Cup with a nail-biting 31-28 win over Australia in Sydney last Saturday.
Coach Scott Robertson told reporters he had always planned to start with Barrett: “(McKenzie) has started every game until now and we’ve got to give guys opportunities.”
Robertson backed McKenzie to have an impact off the bench.
“He’s had a great season to date. There’s areas of his game he can get better, but he can come on and game-manage what we need to do to finish the match.”
Robertson has deployed two-time world player of the year Barrett in a variety of backline roles, preferring him as a fullback or off the bench as a utility.
Barrett missed last Saturday’s match with illness but returns to partner scrum-half TJ Perenara, who has replaced Cortez Ratima in the starting 15.
Anton Lienert-Brown comes in at inside centre for Jordie Barrett, who has a knee injury.
Loose forward Sam Cane will play his 100th Test, becoming only the 13th All Black to reach the milestone, in front of an anticipated capacity crowd.
Both Cane and Perenara will likely be playing their last internationals on home soil having signed contracts with Japanese clubs beginning next year.
Perenara said he was looking forward to renewing his partnership with Barrett.
The pair have played dozens of times alongside each other for New Zealand and Super Rugby club Wellington Hurricanes.
“To be able to go out there (in Wellington) with him at 10 is something I’m excited for and will cherish,” Perenara said.
New Zealand are looking to end a five-match winless streak in Wellington, dating back to 2018.
“Our job is to play better here,” added Perenara.
“A field or a region doesn’t determine whether you win or lose and we have to own our performance this weekend.”
The match is also the teams’ final outing in this year’s Rugby Championship, which will be won by either leaders South Africa or second-placed Argentina who clash in Nelspruit later Saturday.
New Zealand (15-1):
Will Jordan; Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke; Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi; Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (capt); Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, David Havili
